On May 25, 2020, Dr. Sam Staley a Florida State University professor and film critic, discussed some controversial issues raised by Netflix’s miniseries, “Waco” on the program, American Perspectives. The discussion includes religion, criminal justice, and militarization of law enforcement. Listen to the 10 minute interview here. The feature picture is from Forbes.
Category: Politics
Protests and Pressure: Why is Trump Responding to the Black Lives Matter Movement Now?
Today, Donald Trump is scheduled to sign an executive order on police reform. According to senior White House officials, the order will create a database to track police officers with histories of misconduct and use federal monies to incentivize police departments to meet higher standards on the use of force. The order will not address…
The Covid-19 Pandemic Shows the Power and Limits of American Federalism.
This post first appeared on The LSE US Centre’s daily blog on American Politics and Policy American federalism allows different responses to policy challenges, and the nation’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic is no exception. When looking at any sort of crisis, the chief executive of a state or municipality is often the leader in…
George Floyd and the Future of Police Misconduct
This piece first appeared in The Beacon. The death of George Floyd at the hands of a cop with a history of excessive force complaints has spurred protests, demonstrations, and riots across the nation. Unfortunately, the violence some protesters have unleashed on these cities is likely to exacerbate existing cultural and political schisms, making meaningful…
Queen and Slim’s Cynicism Should Prompt Serious Discourse on Race and Criminal Justice
This post first appeared on the Independent Institute. When Queen and Slim went into wide release in November 2019, trailers suggested the movie was a story of a “black Bonnie and Clyde.” It’s not. That’s also the point. The movie, directed by Melina Matsoukas and written by Lena Waithe, is a disturbing commentary on racial injustice in America. Most white…
Research Spotlight: Carving out Lesbian Spaces in Turkey
LGBTQ communities exist, and, it is our duty as urban planners to recognize and provide literal “space” for the creation of more inclusive cities.
Some of COSSPP Faculty’s Favorite Academic Books
Each year FSU’s newly tenured faculty are asked to hand-pick an item for the Libraries in a subject area of their choosing. The faculty’s picks are purchased and inscribed with the faculty member’s name, department, and the year. Faculty are asked to write a brief paragraph explaining why the book they selected is meaningful to…
Policy Pub: The Blue Revolution – Marine Aquaculture and the Future of Sustainable Food Systems
It is estimated that by the year 2050, Earth’s population will reach more than 9 billion people, creating serious challenges for meeting global food demand while also addressing environmental sustainability concerns. Seafood consumption has increased steadily over the past four decades, with more than 3 billion people worldwide depending on fish as a major source…
COSSPP Faculty Impact on Scholarship: Influence at a Glance
As the spring semester comes to an end, we want to take a moment to celebrate the accomplishments and influence of faculty in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. This series of graphs produced by Dr. Jim Elsner offers a glimpse of the amazing work taking place in the College of Social Science…
Five Principles to Improve Your Virtual Work Space after Coronavirus
This piece first appeared in the Tallahassee Democrat. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led to massive, overnight shifts in higher education and in the broader workforce. Millions of students and workers in Florida and throughout the U.S. are now forced into online learning and virtual work. Unfortunately, remote work and learning carries its own burdens….
